Is Kala’i Rosario Back on Twins’ Prospect Map?

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kala'i Rosario)

Kala'i Rosario has spent the last two years in prospect limbo. The Minnesota Twins' fifth-round pick from the shortened 2020 draft once looked like one of the organization's fastest-rising hitters. After winning Midwest League MVP honors in 2023 and capturing the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby title, Rosario appeared poised to climb into the upper tier of the system's prospect rankings. Instead, injuries, strikeouts, defensive concerns, and a pair of Rule 5 Draft snubs pushed him toward the background of Minnesota's prospect conversation. 

Now, after another season showcasing his biggest strength while adding a surprising new wrinkle to his game, Rosario may be forcing his way back onto the Twins' prospect map, especially after his recent promotion to Triple-A. 

The Power Has Never Left

The easiest way to understand Rosario's appeal is to look at the power. Few hitters in the Twins' system consistently impact the baseball the way Rosario does. The right-handed slugger possesses plus bat speed, routinely drives balls to all fields, and has now topped 20 home runs in two of the last three seasons.

After an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, Rosario bounced back by launching 25 home runs with a 131 wRC+ while playing 130 games at Double-A Wichita. He paired that production with a 12.6% walk rate, continuing a positive trend that has followed him throughout his professional career.

The Twins have long believed the raw power could play at the major-league level. At this point, it's becoming increasingly difficult to argue otherwise. Even when Rosario has struggled, the power output has remained. His ability to drive the ball over the fence gives him a carrying tool that many prospects don't possess.

A New Dimension to His Game

Power wasn't the biggest surprise of Rosario's 2025 season. Speed was. Known primarily as a bat-first corner outfielder, Rosario arrived in better shape and became a much more aggressive runner last year. He stole 32 bases, doubling his previous career total and adding an element few expected to see from his game. So far in 2026, he has gone 9-for-12 on stolen base attempts. 

No one is going to confuse Rosario with a burner, but the willingness to improve his conditioning and maximize his athleticism shouldn't be overlooked. Players often become more one-dimensional as they climb the ladder. Rosario managed to broaden his skill set. That development may not erase concerns about the rest of his profile, but it does show a player willing to make adjustments and find ways to increase his value. More speed also means better range in the outfield, even if he'll never be a standout with the glove.

Why He Keeps Getting Overlooked

If Rosario's power is so intriguing, why wasn't he selected in the Rule 5 Draft? The answer is simple: the flaws remain significant. For every tape-measure home run, there is plenty of swing-and-miss. Rosario posted a 27.5% strikeout rate at Double-A last season, and that was a career-low mark. He continues to have difficulty against softer secondary offerings, and his career .251 minor-league batting average doesn't exactly scream future middle-of-the-order star. In 2026, his strikeout rate has risen back to over 30%, so it will be something to watch as he faces better pitchers at Triple-A.

The defensive concerns are even more pronounced. While Rosario possesses a tremendous throwing arm, his routes and instincts in the outfield remain works in progress. Evaluators have questioned his ability to track balls consistently, and defense has long been the biggest obstacle standing between Rosario and a clearer major-league path.

To his credit, there were signs of improvement. Some of the rough edges appeared less severe than in previous seasons. Still, Rosario is unlikely to ever become a plus defender. The question is whether he can become good enough for the bat to carry the profile.

Double-A Learning Curve

One reason Rosario may be getting undervalued is that his statistical line doesn't fully reflect the difficulty of his assignment. After dominating High-A Cedar Rapids in 2023, Rosario jumped to Double-A as a 21-year-old. Nearly all of his plate appearances came against older and more experienced pitchers.

He’s managed to improve his offensive numbers while playing parts of the last three seasons at Double-A. Rosario posted a .726 OPS in 2024, improved to an .844 OPS in 2025, and held steady with an .839 OPS this season. Even after going back to Double-A, he is over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the Texas League and was facing older pitchers nearly 60% of the time. That performance may not have generated headlines, but it demonstrated that his power could survive against better pitching. When teams challenge young players with advanced affiliate assignments, there are sometimes growing pains. That can bring their stock down, but sometimes, the player just needs more time to take advantage of the situation they're in than if they'd been brought along more slowly.

Back on the Radar

Rosario isn't a perfect prospect. In fact, he might be one of the most polarizing players in Minnesota's farm system. The strengths are tantalizing, while the weaknesses remain difficult to ignore. The power is legitimate. The walk rates are encouraging. The improved athleticism and stolen-base totals suggest there may be more to the profile than previously believed.

At the same time, the strikeouts and defensive limitations continue to create questions about whether he can become an everyday major leaguer. That's why Rosario remains far from consideration for many national prospect lists and why the Twins felt comfortable leaving him unprotected in consecutive Rule 5 Drafts.

But prospect development is rarely linear. Players fall off the radar and work their way back all the time. Rosario may never become one of Minnesota's elite prospects again, but after another season showcasing legitimate power and surprising athletic growth, he's giving the organization a reason to keep watching closely.

For a player who seemed to be fading from the conversation, that's a significant step forward.

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What stands out about Rosario's season? Can he work his way back into Minnesota's long-term plans? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[bean5302]

He's a non-prospect. Same kind of rank as Kyler Fedko, but without the defensive versatility. Sure, AA is very hard. The level weeds out players with MLB level talent from players who have a likely ceiling below.

Rosario certainly appears to be the latter.

[FlyingFinn]

Rosario probably makes Wallner look good in the outfield, and that isn't good. Therefore, he is well behind Jenkins, Rodriguez and Roden, and probably Gonzalez. Thus, to answer your question, Rosario isn't on the Twins prospects radar right now and won't be added to the 40 man roster at the end of the year.

[Dman]

39 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

He's a non-prospect. Same kind of rank as Kyler Fedko, but without the defensive versatility. Sure, AA is very hard. The level weeds out players with MLB level talent from players who have a likely ceiling below.

Rosario certainly appears to be the latter.

Yeah that is pretty much my basic thinking as well.  The Twins, last I heard, were looking to improve their outfield defense and Rosario also has holes in his swing.  He's a pretty typical power over hit bat and there might be value there in time, but he is behind several players.  As mentioned above unless he goes on an absolute tear at the plate I don't see them adding him to the crowded outfield mix to protect from Rule V. 

I like what he's done to become better, but he is gonna need more to get there IMO.

[DJL44]

He may have been moved up to AAA because a different organization wants to see how he performs. If he has a hot July, he’s trade bait.

[ashbury]

We could also work something out to get Carson McCusker back, if we want this profile.